The relationship between the Brand Inspector and the rancher can be a love/hate relationship. It’s most love, but after all a Brand Inspector is a cow cop and his loyalty is always to the brand laws of the State of Wyoming. Here Soaphole reviews documentation with rancher Ed Sigel who, as well as a rancher, […]
In much of the United States horses are a pleasant hobby item, usually for showing, riding, rodeo or racing. Not in Rock River Radio country. A good ranch horse is still an invaluable tool. Hobby horses or even competition rodeo horses are usually graded on looks, speed or their ability to do one thing well.
The life of a Brand Inspector. Every cow shipped has to be identified by it’s brand before it can go on a truck and be shipped. Last year old Soaphole (pictured here) and his 81 brother and sister brand inspectors inspected about 1,500,000 head of livestock.
Before they cows can ship, the trucks have to get to the corrals. This may mean a journey of 50 miles or so over dirt roads which are often rough, occasionally muddy, or both. Then it is often cross-country to get to the loading chute.
Payday. All the work – feeding, doctoring, calving, fixing things and worrying lead to this one day. The value of cows is based on weight so running the cows across the scale before they go to market is the moment of truth, and profit. Some ranches, like this one, have a permanent scale house. Others
Spring may be blooming in many places but not at the Rock River Radio Broadcast Center.
Frozen Camera – Literally Read More »
Over the next couple of weeks we will be sharing some photographs from The Cassidy Newkirk Collection. Yes that’s her working cows and yes she’s Soaphole’s daughter. When not working cows she’s an accomplished artist and photographer.
